protect the natural dune seawall, our first line of defense against hurricanes
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Protect The Natural Dune Seawall, Our First Line of Defense Against Hurricanes. Richard L. Watson, Ph.D. TexasCoastGeology.com (361) 749-4152. Protect the Dune Seawall, 1970. TexasCoastGeology.com. Poor Beach Management, 2005. TexasCoastGeology.com. Pure Sand Graded from Road. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Protect The Natural Dune
Seawall, Our First Line of
Defense Against
Hurricanes
Richard L. Watson, Ph.D.
TexasCoastGeology.com
(361) 749-4152
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Protect the Dune Seawall, 1970Protect the Dune Seawall, 1970
TexasCoastGeology.com
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Poor Beach Management, 2005Poor Beach Management, 2005
TexasCoastGeology.com
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Pure Sand Graded from RoadPure Sand Graded from Road
TexasCoastGeology.com
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Removing Dune SandRemoving Dune Sand
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Lost to the Natural Dune SeawallLost to the Natural Dune Seawall
TexasCoastGeology.com
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Port Aransas Beach Regulations
Port Aransas Beach Regulations
The City of Port Aransas shall prohibit The City of Port Aransas shall prohibit beach maintenance activities which will beach maintenance activities which will
result in the SIGNIFICANT result in the SIGNIFICANT REDISTRIBUTION of sand or which will REDISTRIBUTION of sand or which will
SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER THE BEACH SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER THE BEACH PROFILE.PROFILE.
TexasCoastGeology.com
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Port Aransas Beach Regulations
Port Aransas Beach Regulations
The City of Port Aransas shall prohibit The City of Port Aransas shall prohibit beach maintenance activities unless beach maintenance activities unless
maintenance activities will not maintenance activities will not materially weaken dunes or dune materially weaken dunes or dune
vegetation or reduce the protective vegetation or reduce the protective functions of the dunes.functions of the dunes.
TexasCoastGeology.com
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State Beach Regulations Add Further LimitationsState Beach Regulations Add Further Limitations
All sand moved or redistributed due to All sand moved or redistributed due to beach maintenance activities shall be beach maintenance activities shall be
returned to the area between the line of returned to the area between the line of vegetation and mean high tide.vegetation and mean high tide.
TexasCoastGeology.com
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State Beach Regulations Add Further LimitationsState Beach Regulations Add Further Limitations
The General Land Office encourages The General Land Office encourages the removal of litter and other debris the removal of litter and other debris by handpicking or raking and strongly by handpicking or raking and strongly discourages the use of machines discourages the use of machines (except during peak visitation periods) (except during peak visitation periods) which disturb the natural balance of which disturb the natural balance of gains and losses in the sand budget gains and losses in the sand budget and the natural cycle of nutrients.and the natural cycle of nutrients.
TexasCoastGeology.com
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Violation of Federal Regulations
Violation of Federal Regulations
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has requested that the City of Port Aransas requested that the City of Port Aransas cease dumping sand below the Mean cease dumping sand below the Mean High Water line. To do so, the City High Water line. To do so, the City needs a federal permit or it is in needs a federal permit or it is in violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA).violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
TexasCoastGeology.com
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New Dune Ridge in 8 Years, 2005New Dune Ridge in 8 Years, 2005
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High Dune, Wide Beach Best?High Dune, Wide Beach Best?High Dune, Wide Beach Best?High Dune, Wide Beach Best?
• Is a high dune and a wide beach the best protection?
• The most important part is the maximum volume, height and width of dunes.
• Hurricane surge will quickly cross any width beach and begin eroding the dunes.
• We MUST have the largest possible vegetated dune system to buy time for the storm to pass.
• Is a high dune and a wide beach the best protection?
• The most important part is the maximum volume, height and width of dunes.
• Hurricane surge will quickly cross any width beach and begin eroding the dunes.
• We MUST have the largest possible vegetated dune system to buy time for the storm to pass.
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How Should We Manage the Beach?
How Should We Manage the Beach?
• Put a row of bollards in the center of the present road where the trash cans are now.
• Narrow the driving lane or move the present bollards seaward.
• This will maintain a pedestrian beach, a driving roadway, parking, and allow the dunes to grow.
• There is no downside. We maintain the full utility of the beach and get additional hurricane protection at no cost to the City
• Put a row of bollards in the center of the present road where the trash cans are now.
• Narrow the driving lane or move the present bollards seaward.
• This will maintain a pedestrian beach, a driving roadway, parking, and allow the dunes to grow.
• There is no downside. We maintain the full utility of the beach and get additional hurricane protection at no cost to the City
TexasCoastGeology.com
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What about the future?What about the future?• Create a procedure to evaluate future needs,
including after a hurricane as well as after further dune growth.
• Require that the dunes be allowed to grow.• Create a permanent beach and dune
protection board staffed by local citizens and local scientists.
• Recognize that our beach is our most important tourist attraction and our dunes are our most important hurricane protection.
• Create a procedure to evaluate future needs, including after a hurricane as well as after further dune growth.
• Require that the dunes be allowed to grow.• Create a permanent beach and dune
protection board staffed by local citizens and local scientists.
• Recognize that our beach is our most important tourist attraction and our dunes are our most important hurricane protection.
TexasCoastGeology.com
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Vegetated Coppice DuneVegetated Coppice Dune
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Protect The Natural Dune Seawall, Our First Line of
Defense Against
Hurricanes
Richard L. Watson, Ph.D.
TexasCoastGeology.com
(361) 749-4152
•Our best storm Our best storm protection is a protection is a high and wide high and wide natural dune natural dune system.system.
•Let nature build it Let nature build it for us, it is free.for us, it is free.
•Our best storm Our best storm protection is a protection is a high and wide high and wide natural dune natural dune system.system.
•Let nature build it Let nature build it for us, it is free.for us, it is free.